Antique gilt bronze mounted Sèvres porcelain garniture

Antique gilt bronze mounted Sèvres porcelain garniture
French, Late 19th Century
Urn: Height 37cm, width 34cm, depth 27cm
Vases: Height 47cm, width 22cm, depth 16cm
 
With its exquisite paintings of putti playing sports in Arcadian landscapes, this ‘bleu celeste’ garniture demonstrates the exceptional beauty and high-quality craftsmanship of Sevres factory porcelain. In addition to this, the porcelain vases are fitted with fine gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts which have been attributed to Henri Picard, the manufacturer and gilder to Emperor Napoleon III.
 
This three-piece garniture is comprised of an urn (or jardinière) and a pair of vases. The urn features a wide bulbous body which is topped by a gilt bronze waisted, guilloche-patterned neck. The neck is mounted with two geometric handles which terminate in cherub head masks. The urn’s body is decorated with a continuous painting which, on one side, depicts a group of Bacchic putti riding a goat, and on the other side, shows putti and a cherub enjoying a picnic and practicing archery. This painting is edged with jewelled (enamel and parcel gilt) decoration, set against a bright ‘bleu celeste’ (turquoise) ground. The urn stands on a waisted and fluted gilt bronze stem, its top encircled by a band of stiff leaves and beading, and its foot by a wreath. The urn is placed on a square gilt bronze plinth which is decorated with grape-form finials, hung draperies and foliate motifs, and is set on four beaded toupie feet.
 
The pair of vases are similar to the urn in their design. The major difference is that the vases feature ovoid porcelain bodies which are topped by pointed porcelain lids, crowned by gilt bronze grape finials. The vases are decorated with paintings of putti playing sports, including darts and wrestling. The paintings are signed ‘Ab: Schilt / à Sevres’.
 
Artist/Maker: Sèvres, Henri Picard